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Fresh Ideas, Real Stories, and a Lot of Laughs

Insights on laughter, leadership, and team culture direct from our founder

August 31, 2023

We Are What We Do

Some of you may have seen the celebratory video we shot to honor our 5 year anniversary! It was a wonderful way to look back and appreciate our relatively brief history. Recently I had a call with a consultant who said, “Yeah, I saw the video and kinda thought, so what?” Ouch.

August 25, 2023

We're FIVE!!! Happy Birthday to us!

Wait, what? FIVE YEARS? I feel like I do scrolling through pictures of my friends’ offspring springing off to college. I have a vivid memory of the first Laughter On Call meeting, before it even had a name.

August 18, 2023

I Made A Mistake

At the start of every Laughter On Call session we establish two key rules. 1)We are a laughing with company not a laughing at company and 2) There are no mistakes and no wrong answers. We do this to set up a space where all ideas are welcome, where you will feel safe to get out of your comfort zone and take risks. The intention here is to create this level of acceptance in controlled circumstances and set a precedent for future communication.

August 11, 2023

Knowing Your Audience - The Power of Empathy

Why does Laughter On Call include empathy in our laughter training? Because it falls exactly in line with something every comedian relies on to do their best work. Knowing your audience. When you know your audience and can figure out how to relate to them, to empathize with their experience, you are that much more likely to get laughs.

August 4, 2023

Laughing at the Misfortune of Others – Not New, Also Not Good

At Laughter on Call we make a big deal about not laughing at others. We always say we’re a laughing with company not a laughing at company. Recently someone challenged me on this, “What do you mean you don’t make fun of people? How do you make people laugh? Plus, with the egos of leaders, you have to make fun of them. They love it!”

July 28, 2023

Hunter, Farmer, Human!

I had an illuminating call this week with a company. After sharing hello’s, we got to the heart of the matter.

July 21, 2023

Acknowledge, Engage and...?

Who doesn’t love a good acronym? When they work it’s like having a gift in your pocket – with ideas inside you can actually use. One of my favorites is pronounced like the word "air."

July 14, 2023

Therapeutic Lying. Is This Really a Thing?

Spent a few weeks this month bringing laughter tools to a gorgeous senior community in New York City, Coterie Hudson Yards, after reading about it in a profile on the director Paul Shrader in The New Yorker. They don’t pay me to say nice things here, but the luxury and care their residents experience is first rate.

July 6, 2023

My "Story Spine" Summer

This week I taught “Story Spine” to my memoir class. In preparation I wrote this as a how-to example.

June 29, 2023

Smile. Don't Argue.

“As people lose the ability to communicate, they still read us very, very well,” said Allison Lindauer, an associate professor of neurology with the Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine. NY Times 6/23/23

June 20, 2023

In True New Hampshire spirit - Diversity or Die!

You can definitely argue that the hat is overkill – and a little too enthusiastically announcing that it’s been nearly 40 years since I graduated college. But there is a method to my madness here.

June 15, 2023

Summer's Here and So is Our Reading List

It's summer so of course we need a reading list! Whether you're lying on a beach, spending time with a loved one struggling with cognitive decline, or just want some tools for bringing laughter to all your relationships, these books can help. They are each brimming with heartfelt stories of perseverance, the search for joy and practical ideas for finding it.